The worldwide area under vines increased slightly in 2014, according to data released in May 2015 by the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV). Global vineyard area increase by 0.1% to 7.57 million ha from the previous year, halting a long downward trend. The expansion of vineyards in China underpinned the global increase. China now has more vineyards than France following growth of 5.1% in 2014, and ranks second only to Spain.

European vineyard areas have also stabilised after many years of decline. Spain's vineyards increased slightly in area by 0.1% to 1.04 million ha, France decreased by just 0.1%, although Italy was down by 2.1%. Australia ranked as the world's 11th largest country by vineyard area.

Global grape production was down by 5.2% in 2014, reflecting significant falls in output at four of the five largest producing countries. The world's largest producer, China, reported a 4.7% decrease, while US production dropped by 10.0% under the effects of drought across California and an earthquake in the Napa region during harvest. France was the only top five producer to lift production up 26.6% to 6.94 million tonnes.

OIV data on the world's top wine producers is more up to date than vineyard and grape production statistics, with estimated results for 2015. These figures show Italy overtook France to become the world's largest wine producer, with annual production lifting 10% to 4.89 ML. France grew by 1% to 4.74 ML, while Spain remained comfortably in third position, despite a 4% decrease in production to 3.66 ML.

In the new world, US wine production was almost steady, with drought still affecting the industry. Chile wine production surged by 23% to 1.29 ML, overtaking Australia at an estimated 1.2 ML and relegating us to seventh position on the world league table of top wine producers.

For the second consecutive year, OIV has released only limited data for 2015 on global wine consumption, and has not released updates in the past year on imports, exports and per capita consumption by country. In general terms, production and consumption worldwide were believed to be in balance in 2015.

Table 35. Top countries ranked by vineyard area, 2014

Country

Vineyard area'000 ha

% ofworld

% changefrom 2013

Spain

1,038

13.7

0.1

China

799

10.6

5.1

France

792

10.5

-0.1

Italy

690

9.1

-2.1

Turkey

502

6.6

-0.4

United States

425

5.6

0.2

Argentina

228

3.0

1.8

Portugal

224

3.0

-2.2

Chile

211

2.8

1.4

Romania

192

2.5

0.0

Australia

154

2.0

-1.9

South Africa

133

1.8

-0.8

World

7,573

0.1

Source: OIV - Report Mainz Congress 2015. Forecast figure, based on data/comments received by May 2015)

Table 36. Top countries ranked by total grape production, 2014

Country

Grape productionmillion tonnes

% ofworld

% Changefrom 2013

China

11,101

15.1

-4.7

United States

7,047

9.6

-10.0

France

6,943

9.4

26.6

Italy

6,894

9.4

-13.9

Spain

6,231

8.5

-18.5

Turkey

4,175

5.7

4.1

Chile

2,791

3.8

-17.0

Argentina

2,689

3.6

-6.3

India

2,602

3.5

0.6

Iran

2,174

3.0

6.2

World Total

73,673

-5.2

Source: OIV - Report Mainz Congress 2015. Forecast figure.

Table 37. Top producers of wine in the world, 2015

Country

Wine production(ML)

% of world

changefrom 2014

Italy

4,887

17.7

10

France

4,737

17.2

1

Spain

3,660

13.3

-4

United States

2,214

8.0

1

Argentina

1,336

4.8

-12

Chile

1,287

4.7

23

Australia

1,200

4.4

0

South Africa

1,131

4.1

0

China

1,118

4.1

0

Germany

879

3.2

-4

Portugal

670

2.4

8

Russia

488

1.8

0

Romania

407

1.5

9

World Total

27,566

2

Source: OIV - 2015 Global Economic Vitiviniculture Data

Table 38. Top exporters of wine in the world, 2013

Country

Wine exportsvolume (ML)

% changefrom 2012

Wine exportsvalue (Million €)

% changefrom 2012

Italy

2,088

-5.6

4,874

7.2

Spain

1,730

-23.0

2,410

3.0

France

1,492

2.2

7,863

3.0

Chile

862

20.4

1,440

8.6

Australia

717

-2.6

1,485

0.9

South Africa

495

27.5

607

10.0

Germany

401

-1.7

993

1.7

United States

397

-1.2

1,101

10.1

Portugal

331

1.5

715

4.8

Argentina

324

-9.5

691

4.3

New Zealand

170

-5.0

769

9.0

World Total

9,807

-3.6

25,610

4.7

Source: OIV - 2013 Global Economic Vitiviniculture Data

Table 39. Top importers of wine, 2013

2012Million Euros

2013Million Euros

Change from 2012 (€)

Change from 2012 (%)

United States

3,673

4,034

361

9.8

United Kingdom

3,690

3,863

173

4.7

Germany

2,432

2,469

37

1.5

Canada

1,436

1,579

143

10.0

China

1,175

1,256

81

6.9

Japan

1,079

1,211

131

12.2

Belgium

957

976

19

1.9

Switzerland

896

949

53

5.9

Netherlands

867

897

30

3.4

Russia

781

838

57

7.3

Hong Kong

855

788

-67

-7.9

France

631

646

15

2.4

Sweden

519

564

46

8.8

Denmark

508

522

13

2.6

Australia

424

479

55

13.1

Singapore

368

377

9

2.5

Norway

304

324

19

6.3

Italy

321

310

-12

-3.6

Ireland

228

242

14

6.1

Brazil

233

233

0

-0.2

Austria

192

208

16

8.4

Poland

168

186

18

10.7

Lithuania

138

185

47

34.4

Other importers

2,084

2,290

206

9.9

World Total

23,960

25,424

1,464

6.1

Source: OIV - 2013 Global Economic Vitiviniculture Data

Table 40. Top wine consuming nations, 2014

Country

Wine consumptionML

% of world

% changefrom 2013

USA

3,100

12.7

1.1

France

2,800

11.5

-3.1

Italy

2,000

8.2

-6.3

Germany

2,000

8.2

-0.6

China

1,700

7.0

-7.3

United Kingdom

1,300

5.3

-1.4

Russia

1,000

4.1

-7.3

Argentina

1,000

4.1

-4.0

Spain

1,000

4.1

2.0

Australia

500

2.0

-0.3

Canada

500

2.0

2.4

Portugal

400

1.6

7.1

World Total

24,400

-1.2

Source: OIV - Report Mainz Congress 2015. Forecast figure, based on data/comments received by May 2015)